Salvation Army to kick off kettle drive

The Salvation Army will host its Red Kettle Kick-Off on Saturday to celebrate the start of Christmas collections in Okaloosa and Walton counties.

ANGEL McCURDY / Daily News

FORT WALTON BEACH — The Salvation Army will host its Red Kettle Kick-Off on Saturday to celebrate the start of Christmas collections in Okaloosa and Walton counties.

The event will be at 1 p.m. at Uptown Station. It will feature the Rev. Jim Ross, former chaplain of the Auburn football team.

The Salvation Army has set a goal of raising $160,000 during the holiday season to help needy residents. It raised $200,000 last year after it set a goal of $150,000.

“We’re helping all the people in this community,” said Lt. Jessica Welch, a corps officer with the Salvation Army of Okaloosa and Walton Counties. “Our goal is to donate and help meet the needs of the community through social services, life-skill classes, character-building programs (and) homework groups for children. Everything we raise goes toward our funds.”

Welch said 82 cents for every $1 donated is returned to the community.

This year, volunteers will man kettles in front of 24 stores in the two counties. Welch said the organization still is looking for volunteers willing to bring Christmas cheer and collect donations.

“I believe that we’re here to meet the needs of the community,” Welch said. “We cannot do that by ourselves. There are many generous people in the community who are just as passionate as us about transforming this community so (needy people) can blossom and be where they want to be.”

For more information about Saturday’s kick-off or volunteering, call 243-4531.